Living The Dream

One weekend in September 2001, Tom and I went to the Long Beach Boat Show. While Tom was busy checking out all the cool new race boats, I spotted a pirate ship looking sailboat. It was a 1979 Mariner Ketch that was listed for sale. At first, he wasn't even interested in having a look at her. So I went alone.

When I walked down that companionway and took one look inside, it was love at first sight. I'm not sure if it was the built-in china cabinet, the Cal-King bed, cedar lined closets or the tub in the master stateroom - but I knew it was the boat for me. I quickly climbed back down on the dock, grabbed Tom by the ear and said "Come aboard, you must see our next Boat!"

Being an engineer, he was excited about the navigation station, radar, 85 hp engine, auto-pilot, etc. I grabbed a flier from the boat broker on the way out and as we walked away, Tom agreed that she was a fine vessel. I posted that flyer of Santorini on the refrigerator.

We were married in May, 2003, in Tortola, British Virgin Islands during a 16 day bareboat charter on a 35' sailboat. We got to know the boat well during that time, both its positive features and its design flaws. We would compare many boats to the Santorini, over time.

In September 2004, we lost ¾ Time in an electrical fire - it was like losing a family member. Our first date, and so many other great memories. We were frequently asked "Will you get another boat?" We always answered "Yes". Explained that it wouldn't be right away, but when we were ready it would be the Santorini - and pull the flyer down off the refrigerator to show them. There would be more questions: "Where is it? Who owns it?" We didn't know. Even Tom would question me about the Dream sometimes. I'd simply say "When we are ready to buy her, we'll find her, and she will be for sale!" In fact, we felt guilty at times, afraid we'd manifested the fire on ¾ Time, because we'd talked about getting Santorini while we were aboard.

In March 2006, Santorini started "calling" me. I couldn't get the vision of that ship out of my head. We had no intention of buying a boat at that point in time. Tom and I were very involved with our respective businesses and a new venture - the timing really wasn't good. Still, she wouldn't leave me alone. I finally relented, and ordered the Abstract of Title and Certificate of Documentation from the US Coast Guard. When we tracked down her owner to see if he might be interested in selling, he simply replied "It's listed for sale".

We completed the sale in June, and in August sailed her out San Francisco Bay under the Golden Gate Bridge to her new home in Southern California. The prior owner actually had her listed for over a year, but ran off two other buyers because he wasn't ready to sell. It wasn't until he set the intention to sell her that I picked up the vibration from her.